OSHA Inspection: ELBERTA CRATE & BOX CO.

Issued

May 12, 2022

Abate by

Jun 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $10,360 · Current $8,288 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2): The floor of each workroom is maintained in a clean and, to the extent feasible, in a dry condition.   a. At Elberta Crate & Box Co., located at 606 Dothan Highway, Bainbridge, GA. 39818, on or about November 18, 2021, the employer exposed employees to slip and fall hazards, in that a cleaning program had not been initiated for employees working throughout the production area.

Issued

May 12, 2022

Abate by

Jun 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $14,502 · Current $11,602 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(b)(7): Ladder surfaces are free of puncture and laceration hazards;   a) At Elberta Crate & Box Co., located at 606 Dothan Highway, Bainbridge, GA. 39818, on or about November 18, 2021, the employer exposed employees to slip and fall hazards, in that walking and working surfaces are not inspected and maintained in a safe condition while employees work throughout the production area.  b. At Elberta Crate & Box Co., located at 606 Dothan Highway, Bainbridge, GA. 39818, on the Veneer Mill Lathe West, the employer exposed employees to slip, trip, and fall hazards, in that catwalks are not inspected and maintained in a safe condition while employees work in the Veneer Mill Lathe West area.   c. At Elberta Crate & Box Co., located at 606 Dothan Highway, Bainbridge, GA. 39818, on the Veneer Mill Lathe East, the employer exposed employees to slip, trip, and fall hazards, in that catwalks are not inspected and maintained in a safe condition while employees work in the Veneer Mill Lathe East area.

Issued

May 12, 2022

Abate by

Jun 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $14,502 · Current $11,602 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(3): Machine or equipment isolation. All energy isolating devices that are needed to control the energy to the machine or equipment shall be physically located and operated in such a manner as to isolate the machine or equipment from the energy source(s).   a. At Elberta Crate & Box Co., located at 606 Dothan Highway, Bainbridge, GA. 39818, on or about November 18, 2021, the employer exposed employees to inadvertent machine start up by not performing effective Lockout/Tagout. On the pull switch for the Veneer Mill Lathe West, a LOTO device was installed to secure the power to the machine. The lock was not placed through the proper holes in the switch and cabinet to ensure that the switch could not be reenergized, this would allow the machine to be turned back on by the switch without removing the Lockout device. The employer failed to test that the machine was effectively locked out.

Issued

May 12, 2022

Abate by

Jun 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $8,287 · Current $6,630 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c): Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use.   a. At Elberta Crate & Box Co., located at 606 Dothan Highway, Bainbridge, GA. 39818, on or about November 18, 2021, the employer exposed employees to corrosive hazards while using materials such as Kimball-Midwest Fast Dry Multipurpose Solvent in that suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area.

Issued

May 12, 2022

Abate by

Jun 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $14,502 · Current $11,602 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(a)(4): Modifications and additions which affect capacity and safe operation shall not be performed by the customer or user without manufacturers prior written approval. Capacity, operation, and maintenance instruction plates, tags, or decals shall be changed accordingly:   a. At Elberta Crate & Box Co., located at 606 Dothan Highway, Bainbridge, GA. 39818, on or about November 18, 2021, the employer exposed employees to fall hazards when they failed to ensure that the man lift that was being used in the shipping department was incompliance with the standards and was approved by the manufacturer prior to use. Modifications and additions which affect capacity and safe operation of powered industrial truck were performed by the employer without the manufacturer's prior written approval. Capacity, operation, and maintenance instruction plates, tags, or decals were not changed accordingly.

Issued

May 12, 2022

Abate by

Jun 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $14,502 · Current $11,602 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii): Point(s) of operation of machinery were not guarded to prevent employee(s) from having any part of their body in the danger zone(s) during operating cycle(s):  a. At Elberta Crate & Box Co., located at 606 Dothan Highway, Bainbridge, GA. 39818, the employer exposed employees to caught-in and amputation hazards in that the Machine #80 Wire Bound was not guarded.

Issued

May 12, 2022

Abate by

Jun 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $14,502 · Current $11,602 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.213(q)(1): Veneer slicer knive(s) were not guarded to prevent accidental contact with the knife edge, at both front and rear:  a. At Elberta Crate & Box Co., located at 606 Dothan Highway, Bainbridge, GA. 39818, on or about November 18, 2021, the employer exposed employees to stuck-by, caught-in and amputation hazards, in that the blades were exposed on the Veneer Mill Lathe East.  b. At Elberta Crate & Box Co., located at 606 Dothan Highway, Bainbridge, GA. 39818, on or about November 18, 2021, the employer exposed employees to stuck-by, caught-in and amputation hazards, in that the blades were exposed on the Veneer Mill Lathe West.

Issued

May 12, 2022

Abate by

Jun 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $14,502 · Current $11,602 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.253(b)(2)(ii): Inside of buildings, cylinders shall be stored in a well-protected, well-ventilated, dry location, at least 20 (6.1 m) feet from highly combustible materials such as oil or excelsior. Cylinders should be stored in definitely assigned places away from elevators, stairs, or gangways. Assigned storage spaces shall be located where cylinders will not be knocked over or damaged by passing or falling objects, or subject to tampering by unauthorized persons. Cylinders shall not be kept in unventilated enclosures such as lockers and cupboards.   a. At Elberta Crate & Box Co., located at 606 Dothan Highway, Bainbridge, GA. 39818, on or about November 18, 2021, the employer exposed employees to struck by and explosion hazards when cylinders were not stored in a well-protected, well-ventilated, dry location, at least 20 (6.1 m) feet from highly combustible materials such as oil or gasoline. Employees in the boiler room as well as maintenance employees who utilize the bottles for welding and cutting procedures were exposed to explosion and struck by hazards when performing their assigned tasks.

Issued

May 12, 2022

Abate by

Jun 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $14,502 · Current $11,602 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.265(c)(18)(i): Construction, operation, and maintenance of conveyors shall be in accordance with American National Standard B20.1-1957, which is incorporated by reference as specified in Sec. 1910.6.   a. At Elberta Crate & Box Co., located at 606 Dothan Highway, Bainbridge, GA. 39818, on or about November 18, 2021, the employer exposed employees to caught-in and amputation hazards in that chain and sprockets on the Veneer Mill Lathe West were not properly guarded  b. At Elberta Crate & Box Co., located at 606 Dothan Highway, Bainbridge, GA. 39818, on or about November 18, 2021, the employer exposed employees to caught-in and amputation hazards on the Veneer Mill Lathe East, where a chain and sprocket was unguarded at a floor opening in the catwalk.

Issued

May 12, 2022

Abate by

Jun 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $14,502 · Current $11,602 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.265(d)(2)(vi)(c): Log haul gear and bull chain drive mechanism shall be guarded.   a. At Elberta Crate & Box Co., located at 606 Dothan Highway, Bainbridge, GA. 39818, on or about November 18, 2021, the employer exposed employees to caught-in and amputation hazards in that the chain and sprockets were not guarded on the Veneer Mill Lathe East.  b. At Elberta Crate & Box Co., located at 606 Dothan Highway, Bainbridge, GA. 39818, on or about November 18, 2021, the employer exposed employees to caught-in and amputation hazards in that the chain and sprockets were not guarded on the Veneer Mill Lathe West.

Issued

May 12, 2022

Abate by

Jun 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $12,431 · Current $9,945 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.253(b)(4)(i): Oxygen cylinders shall not be stored near highly combustible material, especially oil and grease; or near reserve stocks of carbide and acetylene or other fuel-gas cylinders, or near any other substance likely to cause or accelerate fire; or in an acetylene generator compartment.   a. At Elberta Crate & Box Co., located at 606 Dothan Highway, Bainbridge, GA. 39818, on or about November 18, 2021, the employer exposed employees to struck by and explosion hazards when oxygen cylinders were stored near highly combustible materials such as oil.

Issued

May 12, 2022

Abate by

Jun 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $12,431 · Current $9,945 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2): Installation and use. Listed or labeled equipment shall be installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling.   At Elberta Crate & Box Co., located at 606 Dothan Highway, Bainbridge, GA. 39818, on or about November 18, 2021, the employer exposed employees to shock hazards throughout the production area due to the following.:  a. A flexible cord in the Boiler Room was "Daisy" chained together with another cord. This cord was used by the employees to power a portable fan.   b. Cleat Mill #80, had a knockout box that was not mounted and the faceplate was not securely fastened to the outlet. Employees plug/unplug fans into the plug depending upon the temperature of the working environment.  c. In Cleat Mill, the Knotching head and #41 Feeder Chain electrical boxes had openings that were not closed. This exposed employees who walk by to an inadvertent shock hazard.

Issued

May 12, 2022

Abate by

Jun 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(3)(ii): Boxes shall be closed by suitable covers securely fastened in place.   a. At Elberta Crate & Box Co., located at 606 Dothan Highway, Bainbridge, GA. 39818, on or about November 18, 2021, the employer exposed employees to shock hazards due to not properly securing the suitable covers as required. On the Veneer Mill Lathe West control catwalk, there were electrical boxes not properly secured to prevent employees from gaining access to the electrical parts.

Issued

May 12, 2022

Abate by

Jun 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $12,431 · Current $9,945 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.334(a)(2)(i): Portable cord and plug connected equipment and flexible cord sets (extension cords) shall be visually inspected before use on any shift for external defects (such as loose parts, deformed and missing pins, or damage to outer jacket or insulation) and for evidence of possible internal damage (such as pinched or crushed outer jacket). Cord and plug connected equipment and flexible cord sets (extension cords) which remain connected once they are put in place and are not exposed to damage need not be visually inspected until they are relocated.   At Elberta Crate & Box Co., located at 606 Dothan Highway, Bainbridge, GA. 39818, on or about November 18, 2021, the employer exposed employees to shock hazards in the following areas: when they failed to take out of service a flexible cord that had obvious visual damage to the outside protective insulation.  a. In the Boiler Room, the employer failed to take out of service a flexible cord that had visible damage to the outside protective insulation. This cord was used as permanent wiring for a portable fan.  b. In the Cleat Mill near Machine #80, employees were using a flexible cord that had visible damage to the outside protective insulation. The employer should have noticed this damaged cord due to the high traffic area. This exposed employees to a shock hazard. Employees used the cord for plugging in a portable fan.

Issued

May 12, 2022

Abate by

Jun 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(6): Each exit sign must be illuminated to a surface value of at least five foot-candles (54 lux) by a reliable light source and be distinctive in color. Self-luminous or electroluminescent signs that have a minimum luminance surface value of at least .06 footlamberts (0.21 cd/m2) are permitted.  29 CFR 1910.37(b)(6): Each exit sign was not illuminated to a surface value of at least five foot-candles (54 lux) by a reliable light source and be distinctive in color:   At Elberta Crate & Box Co., located at 606 Dothan Highway, Bainbridge, GA. 39818, on or about November 18, 2021, the employer exposed employees to burn and inhalation hazards when they failed to provide illuminated exit signs as required in the following areas:  a. In the Boiler room three exits did not have an exit sign or an illuminated sign as required, employees working in the area were not provided illuminated exit signs as required. No other known light source was in the vicinity of this exit.   b. Warehouse #7 on door #3, employees working in the area were not provided illuminated exit signs as required. No other known light source was in the vicinity of this exit.   c. Warehouse #5 no exit sign was provided, employees working in the area were not provided illuminated exit signs as required. No other known light source was in the vicinity of this exit.   d. Warehouse #4 no exit sign was provided, employees working in the area were not provided illuminated exit signs as required. No other known light source was in the vicinity of this exit.